SB 1 Passes out of Senate Environmental Quality Committee

Next Hearing in is the Senate Government and Finance Committee

February 23, 2017

Sen. Jim Beall’s (D-San Jose) SB 1 cleared a major hurdle on Feb. 22, passing out of its second of three policy committees.

The measure generates an additional $6 billion annually for California’s local and state transportation network and is supported by the Fix Our Roads Coalition, of which the League is a founding member.

The League continues to support the $2.2 billion in additional revenue annual for local streets and roads and provisions expanding the streamline review for projects in existing right of way for all cities. State and local roads have a maintenance backlog of $130 billion and California motorists are spending more than $700 annually on car repairs due to pothole-filled roads. This backlog is divided between $59 billion for state highways and $73 billion for local streets, roads, and bridges. Without additional funding, this shortfall is projected to grow by $20 billion in the next decade.

SB 1 now goes to the Senate Government and Finance Committee where it will be heard next week. The measure is another step closer to the Legislature meeting Gov. Jerry Brown’s April 6 deadline to pass a comprehensive transportation package.